Special Education Bridges Teacher at The Therapy Place – Columbia, South Carolina

About The Therapy Place

The Therapy Place is a pediatric therapy center and private school focused on helping children grow, learn, and succeed. We provide speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy, along with specialized educational programs, all in one supportive setting.

Our team works closely together to give each child consistent, individualized care. We value collaboration, open communication, and building strong relationships with the families we serve.

At The Therapy Place, you’re not working in isolation—you’re part of a team that shows up for each other and for the kids. You’ll have the support you need to do your job well, the ability to collaborate across disciplines, and the chance to see real progress in the children you work with.

About the role

The Bridges Teacher is a full-time, salaried position responsible for leading a preschool classroom within the Bridges School at The Therapy Place. This role is central to delivering high-quality instruction while integrating therapy, behavioral, and developmental supports into each part of the school day.

Teachers design and implement daily classroom activities, assess student progress, and create individualized academic and behavioral goals using a data-informed approach. You will work closely with aides, therapists, and families to ensure consistency across all areas of a child’s development, including communication, social skills, and daily living skills.

This position offers a consistent weekday schedule (7:45 AM – 3:45 PM), providing strong work-life balance compared to many education and childcare settings. In addition to a stable, salaried role, employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, including partially company-paid medical insurance, and fully employer-paid dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. The role also includes paid time off and a retirement plan with a company match of 50% of employee contributions up to 5%. The Therapy Place is also an eligible nonprofit for certain student loan forgiveness programs.

You’ll work within a highly collaborative, team-based model where therapists and educators partner closely, giving you daily support and shared responsibility for student outcomes. Teachers are supported by engaged leadership and have opportunities to build specialized experience, develop leadership skills through supervising aides and interns, and contribute meaningfully to a growing program.

What you'll do

• Plan and lead daily classroom instruction, including circle time, centers, and transitions
• Develop and implement curriculum aligned with students’ academic, behavioral, and developmental needs
• Create structured daily schedules and guide aides and interns in supporting instruction
• Assess student progress using formal and informal methods and use data to set academic and behavioral goals
• Collect and track behavioral data and support the development of behavior intervention plans
• Ensure consistent carryover of therapy goals throughout classroom routines and activities
• Supervise and support aides and interns to maintain consistency and quality of care
• Communicate regularly with parents through in-person conversations, messaging platforms, and meetings
• Lead parent meetings and support students and families through educational transitions
• Collaborate with therapists to align classroom instruction with therapy plans and goals
• Participate in school events, showcases, and field trips
• Assist with enrollment activities, including tours and family meetings
• Support administrative responsibilities such as classroom organization, supply management, and reporting

Qualifications

• South Carolina teaching certificate (required)
• Experience in special education or working with children with diverse developmental needs
• Strong classroom management and organizational skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills with families and staff
• Comfortable in a hands-on, active classroom environment
• Passion for supporting children’s academic, social, and functional growth